Prospects

Pick Analysis: The Raiders have been roundly criticized for their recent drafts, but the selection of Lamarr Houston is an outstanding pick for the franchise. The hulking interior defender is an exceptional athlete with outstanding strength and power. He is capable of stacking blockers at the point of attack, but also possesses the quickness to play as an up-field penetrator. Given the Raiders' woes on defense, the addition of Houston will undoubtedly shore up some of the problems inside.

Overview

Houston is a short, thick defender that has natural power at the point of attack. He can anchor the middle of the defense when playing with good pad level but can be inconsistent in this area. He has strong hands but again doesn’t always use them effectively to shed blockers. Houston feels pad pressure well and can restrict running lanes effectively. He shows good power to push the pocket as a bull rusher but needs to expand his moves and counters to contribute more as a pass rusher. He needs to be more disciplined and anticipate the snap count as he will jump offsides too often. Houston has the size and athleticism to be an effective interior defender at the next level and will likely fit best in a 4-3 scheme.

Strengths

Houston has enough bulk and size to play inside in a 4-3 scheme. Is a smart player who can feel pressure. Tough performer. Is an instinctive guy who can find the football. Possesses good power. Has been productive in college.

Weaknesses

Houston exhibits an inconsistent motor and doesn’t always finish plays. Gets called for too many flags when incorrectly guessing the snap count. Gets in trouble when he plays with inconsistent pad level. Must improve his pass rush package beyond the bull rush.